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Combing with a Horn Comb Can be Therapy, Says Chinese Medicine

Combing therapy is an ancient method of natural healing that’s part of self massage, which is thought to help harmonize internal organs, prevent disease, and stimulate the brain in the morning and calm it at night. At the very least, it’s relaxing.

Horn combs have been used since antiquity in Scandinavia and other areas where the bones of lifestock were turned into intricate tools rather than wasted, so it’s not surprising that bone combs were also used in Asia. What is surprising is that the ancient Chinese took the comb a step further and decided to develop “combing therapy,” which is a way of combing the hair on your head with a bone (or horn) comb in order to treat disease and distress.

Should you find yourself in possession of a horn comb of some sort, like maybe a Modern Barbarian Beard Comb, for starters, why not try out a little free ancient healing?

How to Use Your Horn Comb for Combing Therapy

First off, the reason it’s important to use a horn comb for scalp combing therapy is the same reason it’s best for your beard – the keratin that makes up the horn comb is the same stuff that’s in your hair, which means less static is introduced, so your hair and skin will keep a balanced moisture level and hair be stripped of its cuticle.

Combing therapy is based on the principle of meridians, which are basically energy highways that Chi uses to flow through the body. The idea is that the freer the flow of meridians, the healthier the body. Combing calms and refocuses the meridians that branch out from the head, and provides relaxation and tension relief.

To stimulate the scalp, all you need is to comb from back to front, then from front to back for 5-10 minutes after waking up and before going to bed. This isn’t about your hair, so don’t worry if you’re a badass bald guy. It’s about the scalp.

Even if you don’t subscribe to a belief in ancient Chinese medicine, you’ve got to admit that combing your hair with a nice, rigid comb feels oh so nice.